Ubisoft’s dance franchise ports itself over from the Wii version to Nintendo’s new Wii U system, and brings along with it the same problems that plagued it in the first place.

If you already own Just Dance 4 on the Wii, then you have this game minus the few minor functions that have been added to the Wii U version, along with the slightly, very slightly, enhanced graphics. If you are new to the series though, then you have a decision to make.

Ubisoft’s Just Dance series began its life on the Wii. Using the Wii Remote, you mimic the dance moves of those on screen, and try to pull off perfect moves for a higher score. Of course, the game required that you hold the Wii Remote, and it judged all of your body’s movements based on this. It was easy to fool, and even in the best of situations the judging of your movements could be somewhat subjective. The series needed more from you, it needed you to want to pull off the moves. And then the Kinect came along.

Without getting into a debate about the “best” hardware, the Kinect’s full body motion tracking is just better suited for dance games. It just is, and there really isn’t much that can be argued against that. That doesn’t mean the Wii (and Sony Move) games aren’t still fun, it just means that the games have an inherent flaw in them that has been highlighted by hardware better suited for this style of game. That same flaw continues to plague Just Dance 4 as it makes its move to the Wii U.

If you are already familiar with the series, then there isn’t much more that needs to be said. The same problems exist, and if you are fan that means you have already accepted these limitations, and that’s great. You need to be willing to put more into the game than if it was watching your whole body, but for Wii U adopters that do want a dance game and are willing to embrace the Wii Remote as the arbiter of your movements, more power to you. The Wii U version will act just as the previous offerings did on the Wii, so it can still be fooled easily, but if your entire goal is just to get a high score you are missing the point of these games to begin with.

The Wii U version is an identical port of the Wii version – or perhaps more accurately the PlayStation Move version, which came with HD graphics where the Wii’s did not. That is almost a non-issue though, as the graphics are very much secondary in this series. But it does present a decent visual offering, filled with lush color and color corrected dancers doing weird and awesome movements.

These background dancers are there to give you your queues, along with a series of icons that flash by at the bottom. But it is tough to track on the first attempt, and with no way to slow down the dances or take them section by section, you need to be willing to put in some time on each song. Thankfully, the dances are so odd that they are usually fun to watch, even if you don’t like the song.

That lack of a tutorial is a problem that is apparent in all versions of Just Dance 4, but what makes this offering unique is the GamePad, which is sadly underutilized.

The majority of the time, the GamePad is completely useless. It offers the option to select the next song, and you can write messages that then appear on the TV, but in most instances it is easy to ignore. The one exception is the Puppet Master Mode, which allows you to choose what dance move those dancing will have to perform next. In theory it is a neat idea, but in practice choosing one of four dance moves every few seconds isn’t much more fun than just watching your friends try pre-selected dance.

The rest of the game is as it was. You have a somewhat meager 40+ tracks (and more are certainly on the way via DLC), along with the “Just Sweat” mode (which turns the dances into workouts that offer target goals) song mashups, and versus modes, including the new “Battle Mode,” which pits you head-to-head against your friends.

The content is solid, and there are a lot of options to dive into. As long as you can get over the limitations and don’t mind that the GamePad is basically a paperweight for this game, you can squeeze a lot of fun out of this game.

Conclusion

It’s best not to think of this as a Wii U game, but rather a dance game that just happens to be on Nintendo’s new system. The Wii U integration is shallow at best. The rest of the game is packed with content, which is nice, but the same problems that plague the Wii and the Move version exist here as well, and it’s a limitation that is not going away.

Just Dance 4 is a decent game that is better on the Kinect. The Wii U version has a lot to offer, but you really have to want to embrace this game in order to get the most of it.

Score: 6 out of 10

(This game was reviewed on the Wii U using a copy provided by the publisher)

Ubisoft and ESPN team up (sort of) to offer a series of mini games based on six sports that is positioned to take up the mantle of Wii Sports.

With any motion based game system, it’s natural to have a sports title that boils the signature characteristics of those sports down to simple movements that allow you to experience that sport without the pesky burden of realistic physics or complicated control schemes. These games are more than just sports titles though, they are de facto tutorials that help to introduce you to the ends and outs of the new hardware in a way that should be accessible for everyone. The Kinect and the Move both have plenty of game like this, but none can hold a candle to the king of this style of gameplay, Wii Sports.

This time out for the Wii U, however, Nintendo went a different direction and released Nintendo Land, a collection of original mini-games that are great for a party environment, but more importantly show the numerous capabilities of the new system and especially the new GamePad controller. It’s a tutorial, just not a sports-themed one. That’s where Ubisoft’s ESPN Sports Connection comes in.

The game features six sports to choose from: tennis, golf, baseball, soccer, car/kart racing, and football. Each of these six titles is a truncated version of its sport, with the essence of each striped down and simplified. Baseball, for example, has you as the pitcher looking at the strike zone, and the movement and speed you make by swiping your finger on the touchscreen is how the pitch is thrown. If you want a fastball, quickly swipe your finger in a straight line. If you want a change-up  start fast and then end slow. For a curve, make a half circle motion. If the ball is hit, you then become the fielder, and you’ll need to position the GamePad towards the ball as if it were a mitt and you were physically in the field. For a pop fly, hold the controller up and you’ll make a catch, for a grounder, look for it low. The batter, on the other hand, swings the bat using the Wii Remote, as you might expect.

Similarly, tennis also uses the touchscreen’s abilities to an alarming degree. To serve you swipe up, then down, and to return you do the same. It is less of a game and more of a test for the technology, and a fairly dull one at that.

Likewise, football is a shell of the actual game. The defense controls the GamePad, and at the start of each play you select on of three plays that you expect the offense will run – essentially a small, medium, or big. Once the play begins, you will then face the player who ends up with the ball and select if they will go right, left, or center. It is just a technological way of playing rock-paper-scissors again and again. The offense fares a bit better, as you use the Wii Remote to mimic the act of throwing the football, which does nothing to highlight the new technology.  

For soccer there is a small version of a traditional soccer match to play, but the technology is used better in the shootout, as you face the net and swipe the direction and path of how and where you want the ball to be kicked, while the Wii Remote becomes the goalie’s tool and that player chooses the side they think the ball will go.

The rest of the games face a similar treatment. The racing is traditional kart-style racing, while the golf is similar, but much less engaging than the other Wii golf games. Of the six, none are deeper than a quick mini-game, and while the GamePad is integrated, it isn’t particularly engaging to use. The touchscreen is just one of the GamePad’s options, and swiping it – while novel – isn’t the most fun way to play. Just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should.

And as for the ESPN integration, there is the familiar jingle to accompany the logo, but that’s about it. That’s somewhat fitting for this game though. It’s a collection of minigames that aren’t all that interesting or entertaining, and the GamePad’s inclusion doesn’t really make a huge difference. With just a few minor changes this could have been a Wii title, and it would have been a more fun game at that.

Conclusion

Ubisoft’s ESPN Sports Connection fills a void that wasn’t crying out to be filled, and it does so in a minor way. The games are all slight diversions, and the GamePad isn’t used particularly well. The Wii Remote is usually the better controller to use, but you’ll need to have the Wii Motion Plus Controller and even then you may run into some odd calibration problems. The ESPN license is also barely used, and was tacked on to raise the profile of an otherwise instantly forgettable title.

If you are interested in seeing the Wii’s full capabilities in a fun minigame setting, check out Nintendo Land instead. There are a few fun moments to be had in ESPN Sports Connection, but they are as brief and fleeting as this game’s lifespan.

Score: 4 out of 10

(This game was reviewed on the Wii U using a copy provided by the publisher)

EA Sports is going all in with its support of Nintendo’s Wii U, offering both Madden 13 and FIFA 13 with all new features thanks to the GamePad integration. In the case of FIFA, that integration is impressive, but that development comes at a cost.

Over the last few years the FIFA franchise has been continually fine-tuning the gaming experience, offering what may seem like tweaks, but are actually fundamental evolutions of the series. New physics continue to push the series in a more realistic direction, which in turn offers a new and more polished game. You might not immediately notice the changes on the surface, but as soon as you start to play the game you can tell that there are differences separating the annual iterations. So those that are fans and have already played FIFA 13 are going to notice a few setbacks.

Player Impact Engine, tactical defending, and precision dribbling are lacking some of the fine-tuning found in the Xbox 360 and PS3 version, something EA Sports has been up front about for a while now. The development of FIFA 13 for the Wii U was consuming and it took a great deal of time – time that the teams working on the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions used to fine tune what became the finished product. The Wii U team didn’t have that luxury. This is fairly common for ports of games on new hardware, and EA Sports has constantly been a victim of this – or perpetrator, depending on your point of view. Regardless, the new additions were a good step forward for the series, and while they aren’t gone, they aren’t the same either. 

The addictive Ultimate Team card game is also absent. EA Sports claims this is primarily because the Wii U’s online infrastructure is still in its infancy, but regardless its absence is unfortunate.

In general, the game is closer to FIFA 12 than FIFA 13 in many ways. The graphics are on par with the PS3/Xbox 360 versions for the most part, and the animations flow smoothly with the 60 fps. The effects like sun light and shadow are better than before, but it doesn’t come close to touching the full potential of the Wii U.

But while the game does sacrifice a few things in the name of making a launch window release, the time that wasn’t spent on fine tuning some of the background mechanics and finding a way to make the Ultimate Team mode work was well spent on the inclusion of the GamePad. The tablet-like controller uses every inch of the smaller display, cramming all the information you could possibly need onto the touchscreen.

Formations can be realigned on the fly, and you can mark men by touching their names. You can use the radar to find where your chosen player is, then send them up or down field. Substitutions are a matter of tapping the players you want to come in for those heading out, fatigue and individual statuses of players can be shown by selecting them on the touchscreen, and tactics can be changed with a button press.

This also creates a low impact managerial gameplay mode, similar to the previous manger modes but easier to use. There is an option to take a hands-off approach and not play the game at all, but rather act as the manager and treat it all like one tactical exercise, making the changes necessary and managing the teams without once dribbling the ball yourself. It is a mode that should appeal to the hardcore fans that love their tactical battles, as well as those that may be just learning the franchise and aren’t prepared to play quite yet.

If you prefer, you can also play the full game on the GamePad. Doing this offers you a few other options like touching the player you want to pass the ball to and shooting by hitting the right thumb stick, which brings up a net on the GamePad that you can touch where you’d like the kick to go. It is an intriguing idea, but feels a bit gimmicky. You can also shake the GamePad to bring up the net visual, but it seems somewhat ridiculous to shake an expensive new piece of hardware, and it is distracting anyway. Sprinting at the goal, then suddenly shaking the GamePad doesn’t feel natural – or at least not nearly as natural as just hitting the shoot button. It is an entirely optional feature though.

Given another year or two with the hardware, EA Sports has the potential to do some impressive things with this series. Once the developers can synch up the development cycle for the Wii U with those of the PS3 and Xbox 360, the Wii U version will actually be superior to its cousins, even though they are mostly the same.

In all other ways, the game is pure FIFA. The GamePad controller is comfortable, and the gameplay is responsive. Five players can also join at once.

Conclusion

It all comes back to the GamePad inclusion. The Wii U development forced a few sacrifices, which is not surprising for new hardware, but the additions are good for now and intriguing for the future. Still, you would expect a little more of the more powerful hardware, and fans will notice the things that are missing.

It really is a trade off. You lose an addictive game mode and some of the improvements to the physics for a chance to micro-manage the game in a way that hasn’t been possible before. The options have been available, but it hasn’t been practical to use them as much as you can now. It all highlights the potential of the series, which is huge.

Score: 8.5 out of 10

(This game was reviewed on the Wii U using a copy provided by the publisher)

  

EA Sports brings Madden 13 to the Wii U, but the transfer was a rocky one. Cuts were made, but the flipside is a very good one.

While the Wii U version of Madden 13 is of course a port of the Xbox 360 and PS3 offering, it is not an exact one. In fact, it’s significantly altered for better and worse – perhaps a bit more on the worse side. For a full review of the previously released versions and all the features available, click here, but know that there are some key differences.

It isn’t uncommon for launch title ports to show some rough edges. Developers are typically given the hardware, then asked to port over a game on the unfamiliar new system in less time than a proper development cycle should take. It’s a difficult task for anyone, and EA Sports is no different.

For the most part, the game is the same, but minus a few key features. It also looks just a touch duller on the Wii U, but the difference isn’t that significant – except that you would hope for more from new hardware, and “adequate” isn’t exactly a ringing endorsement. The Wii U is a far more powerful system than you might imagine from this game, and the next year’s offering for Nintendo’s system should be greatly improved. But the graphics are only a small matter compared to the missing features.

One of the biggest loses is this year’s heavily touted addition, the “Infinity Engine,” which altered the physics for the better. Player animations reacted more realistically, which improved the overall gameplay and presentation. The series did fine without it for years, but it is a step back for the franchise – albeit one that only those that played the 360/PS3 version will register. More noticeably is the loss of the Madden Ultimate Team and online team play.

If you are a fan of playing Madden online, these omissions are major. There’s no getting around that. Whether the demands were just too great, or the Wii U’s online capabilities were a question mark, the fact remains that the online side of this game is a pale imitation of its cousins on the other systems.

The rest of the features remain intact, however, and they come with one major addition: the integration of the Wii U’s GamePad.

The GamePad offers two boons to players. First, you can enter “detached mode” and play the full version of Madden 13 on the GamePad rather than the TV. This is one of the best features of the Wii U, but it’s one that developers need to specifically program in so credit to EA Sports. The picture looks identical on the GamePad, and it moves just as well. There is no limitation in the transfer, so you can play all of the modes you would on the TV.

But the game really shines when you use the GamePad in conjunction with the TV. During gameplay, the GamePad becomes the playbook, removing the play calling from the TV and putting it on the touchscreen. Shuffling through the various plays this way is easy, but the real benefit comes during the plays.

Once you have made your choice – but before the snap – if you are on defense you will see a display of all the players moving into formation, listed by their positions and names. If you touch that player, you will take control of them, but you will also be able to change their pattern. If you’d rather the safety blitz than stay in his formation, you can. If you want to double team a particular offensive player, you can do that too. You can also choose your set audible formations from a list, rather than the occasionally cumbersome controller navigation.

While on offense, the GamePad becomes your source for creating your own audibles via hot routes. Simply select the receiver then draw the route you want him to run. Think you can do better than the best NFL brains? You can now prove it.

This is such a natural use of the GamePad, that it would have been disappointing if the game didn’t use this feature. It just fits perfectly. Hopefully the game will continue to develop this and include even more options and more on the fly customization.

But while it is an excellent addition, most of the plays are better left undisturbed, and the desire to constantly tweak the plays is eventually going to become counterproductive. Still, having the option feels like a giant step ahead for the series. Or at least, it has the potential to be a giant step forward once the rest of the package is up to par.

The Wii U will also allow up to five players at once, using the Wii Remotes with nunchucks, and/or the Pro Controller. The GamePad in this instance become a standard controller, and the option to alter routes is not available, nor is selecting plays on only the GamePad – you still do, but the choices are also reflected on the TV. It’s the only fair way to do it.

Conclusion

This year’s Madden 13 for the Wii U is a tradeoff. At the cost of gutting the online section, the game introduces the GamePad, the best way to play a football video game. It just makes sense to use the GamePad like this, and it should surprise no one if EA Sports finds a way to offer a comparable experience on the other systems, perhaps using Microsoft’s Smartglass or a mobile apps.

Next year’s Wii U offering should correct the online issues, but for now it is an undeniable hole in the game. But for fans that have been removed from the series for a few years, or have only played the Wii versions, than the lack of graphical superiority – despite the more powerful system – won’t make much of a difference. In all other regards though, it is the same game, but with an even brighter future.

Score: 8 out of 10

(This game was reviewed on the Wii U using a copy provided by the publisher)

Don't know which Windows 8 apps to download to your new touch laptop? Check out our list of the cream of the crop for both productivity and entertainment on your Microsoft gadget.

Windows 8 is an operating system that brings some of the best features of tablets and desktops together. One of the coolest advances is the availability of Windows 8 apps in the Windows Store. The idea itself is not new, apps have been on smartphones, tablets, and laptops for years, but it is a newer addition to the world of Microsoft.

The Windows Store is not as laden with offerings as its Apple or Android counterparts, but the selection will surely continue to grow as developers tap into the potential of this new market. Even at this early stage, though, Microsoft users do have some great choices that can make computing simpler, easier, or just more fun. Many of the programs will be familiar to you, but now you can experience them in a new way: specially prepared for the new OS. Here’s our list of the top 15 apps on Windows 8 so far. 

Netflix

Streaming media programs are essential for any personal computer. Although it’s easy enough to go the Netflix website, this app is too good-looking to pass up on a Windows 8 device. Designed for use with touchscreens, the interface is a beautiful match for the OS. Download the Netflix app here.

Hulu Plus

It might seem like overkill to have two apps for streaming movies and television on this short list, but both Netflix and Hulu Plus have become indispensable for multimedia enthusiasts. You can almost always find exactly what you want between the two programs. Plus, both look great and offer streaming right from your start page. Download the Hulu Plus app here. 

Remote Desktop

 

This tool is a huge help for people with multiple Microsoft computers, either at home or at work. As the name implies, this program allows you to hop on to the desktop of one computer from another. That means you can access files across machines in a snap. Download Remote Desktop here. 

SkyDrive

While Remote Desktop is great when you only need to move between computers occasionally, you’ll still want to have a go-to app for syncing and sharing your files. SkyDrive is Microsoft’s cloud storage solution, which makes it a good choice for the OS. That being said, some of its competitors also have solid Windows 8 apps, so if you’re already a fan of Box, check out that app instead. Download the SkyDrive app here. 

News Bento

There aren’t a ton of choices for feed reading apps yet for Windows 8, but you do have a solid option with News Bento. The app allows you to browse changing headlines or search by category for your interests. If Google Reader is your feed of choice in a browser, News Bento has some support for it. Otherwise, News Bento allows you to enter in whatever news sources you follow, and lets you select which news outlets appear in the feed at any given time. Clicking a source or story summary will send you to the browser to visit the webpage in question. Download News Bento here.

Xbox SmartGlass

This is a must-have for any Xbox owners. It’s another example of Microsoft making smart and fun decisions as it works to be the sole provider of your entertainment needs. The app lets you use your device as a second screen for the console. That’s true whether you’re using your Xbox for video games, videos, or music. The app can just as easily serve as a remote control while watching a TV show or can transfer songs from one Microsoft device to another. Download Xbox SmartGlass here. 

Skype

Microsoft’s ownership of the voice and video chat program is clear when you see how well Skype integrates into Windows 8. It looks like the company is positioning Skype to be top dog over rival products from Google. Along with looking great on the Windows 8 OS, it now combines the features of Google Talk, Hangout, and Voice into a single app. It’s a great choice for people who favor simplicity, especially if you can convince your social circle to use the platform as well. Download Skype here. 

Toolbox for Windows 8

This handy productivity tool lets you easily multitask by breaking down your screen into six sections. You can assign different tools to take up as many of those sections as you want, meaning you can have anywhere from one to six different apps open at once on your computer. It’s a straightforward way of approaching multitasking without the need to constantly resize and shuffle around different windows. The Toolsets feature also lets you save the layouts that work best for you so that you don’t need to reconstruct your work setup every morning. Download Toolbox for Windows 8 here. 

Windows 8 Cheat Keys

This is a must have for anyone who has felt that they’re facing a steep learning curve with the new OS. Windows 8 Cheat Keys gives a daily tip, rolling out helpful suggestions so that new users can acclimate to the features of Windows 8 and really learn how to navigate the different layout. The shortcuts and hints offered here mean that anyone can be a Windows 8 expert in no time. Download Windows 8 Cheat Keys here. 

Google Search

Obviously, Microsoft would love it if you switched search engine responsibilities over to Bing on any Windows 8 devices. But as of the beginning of this year, it was clear that Google was trouncing Bing in terms of popularity. If you’re one of the many who still favors Google Search, this app for your start screen can be a big help. Although it doesn’t offer a search bar directly on the main page, you can access other Google services as well as search by opening the app. Download the Google Search app here. 

Wikipedia

Oh, Wikipedia. Where would we be without you? Fortunately, you have this great database as a Live Tile on your Start screen. The layout of the app reflects the tile-based interface of Windows 8, which is a great system for casually browsing while in the OS. If you decide you want to be on the Wikipedia website instead of the app, there’s a button that will allow you to hop to that page in a browser. Download the Wikipedia app here. 

Allrecipes

Allrecipes is a great choice for those who love cooking and eating. You can browse more than 40,000 recipes, searching by ingredient, type of dish, or dietary restriction. The recipes are submitted by other home cooks, so whether you’re a pro or can barely boil water, you’ll be able to find something delicious to make. Download the Allrecipes app here. 

Nook

Especially since Microsoft no longer has an e-reader of its own, it’s been a quick race for other digital book purveyors to get apps up on Windows 8. Barnes & Noble just launched its Nook app for the OS earlier this week, and it’s a must-have for Nook owners. Download the Nook app here. 

Kindle

Likewise, if you’re in the Kindle camp, this is an essential. Amazon’s Whispersync keeps your bookmarks and downloads collected on whatever Windows 8 device you use, so you can access reading material whenever and wherever you are. Download the Kindle app here.

Kayak

Apparently Priceline’s new ownership of travel planning site Kayak has not curbed its excellence. The app lets you search for deals on flights and hotels. It has a much cleaner look on Windows 8 than online, which makes it easier to compare choices. For a frequent traveller, having a reliable app right on your start screen is a must. Download the Kayak app here. 

Do you have any other favorite Windows 8 apps? Let us know in the comments below. 

The Wii U version of Mass Effect 3 offers newcomers among the Nintendo faithful an entry point into BioWare's critically acclaimed sci-fi universe.

Mass Effect 3: Special Edition is a Wii U launch title because there are Nintendo faithful who have never experienced BioWare’s sci-fi RPG. That’s the message sent by the functionally identical port that Australian developer Straight Right assembled for the console’s launch. There’s nothing wrong with this, but if you were among the masses howling for blood over the trilogy’s conclusion earlier in 2012 — whether for or against — then there’s nothing new for you to find here. If you want to know if the game is worth your time, look no further than our original Mass Effect 3 review.

The quick and easy answer for total newcomers: yes, definitely worth your time.

The most noticeable feature that separates Mass Effect 3 for Wii U from its predecessors is, of course, the GamePad. Nintendo’s second screen interface is outfitted with only minimal enhanced functionality, in the form of an area map and any of eight touch-based hotkeys that you can assign. Creating a shortcut to a particular ability or piece of gear is as simple as dragging a small icon over to the desired location at either side of the GamePad screen. You’ll still end up using face buttons for Commander Shepard’s own combat abilities, but the touchscreen shortcuts offer quick and relatively easy access to squad skills once you get the hang of tapping one without having to look for it.

Mass Effect 3: Special Edition also adds a newly reformulated version of the Genesis motion comic included with the PlayStation 3 release of Mass Effect 2. The comic allowed players who hadn’t experienced the first game to see the story and make any critical choices they had missed. Genesis 2 is largely the same thing, with the events and choices of ME2 added in as well. The idea is to introduce newcomers to the Mass Effect universe while setting up a basic foundation for the state Shepard’s interpersonal relationships as ME3 opens.

That’s the idea. The problem is that the first two Mass Effect games both feature long, elaborate stories that are very difficult to distill down into a motion comic with a reasonable running time. Corners are cut and details are glossed over, particularly in the new portions of Genesis 2 that cover the events of the second game. Elaborate, multi-hour story arcs that unfold as Shepard assembles his team are swept into broad yes/no responses that do the dirty work of setting up the pawns for Mass Effect 3 but with none of the nuance that makes the end result so fulfilling. It’s an unfortunate issue, and perhaps an impossible one to avoid unless (until?) the previous two games come to Wii U.

Also included as part of this “special edition” package is some of the previously released downloadable content for Mass Effect 3, including the day-one From Ashes add-on, the Extended Cut DLC that brings additional context to the story’s conclusion, and the Resurgence, Rebellion, and Earth content packs for the game’s Galaxy at War co-op mode. The lone all-new addition is one heavy weapon, a cluster-fire rocket launcher with lock-on capabilities. No one’s going to argue against the idea of a multi-fire rocket launcher, but it probably doesn’t merit another trip through the campaign.

Galaxy at War is completely intact, though the absence of more recent DLC releases means that previous versions of the game enjoy several additional maps plus new features like challenges and hazards that aren’t (yet) available on Wii U. The micro-transaction component of the mode’s booster pack-driven economy is also gone, with the various weapons/gear/character packs now only purchasable with credits earned in-game. Prices unfortunately remain at their micropayment-encouraging highs, which only serves to highlight the mode’s chief flaw: the fact that supporting for-pay content comes before nailing the right drip-feed of gear to keep players feeling invested. Without microtransactions Galaxy at War’s grind mentality is laid bare, and with none of the enhancements offered by more recent DLC updates.

Mass Effect 3 for Wii U does manage to impress on a technical level. This sharp-looking game loses nothing in the transition to Nintendo’s platform. There may even be some slight improvements in the realm of lighting and shadows. Load times definitely take a hit, though it’s likely just as much the console as it is the game. As our own review notes, the Wii U suffers from inexplicably long load times for even the most basic tasks, such as jumping between the various main menus. That said, the hardware is most certainly up to the task of doing the BioWare art team proud.

Mass Effect 3: Special Edition for Wii U is a clear-cut frontrunner among the new console’s strongest launch titles, though that’s hardly surprising given the critical success of the original game. It is most definitely not a journey that returning players need to experience, not unless there’s some burning desire to play through the same game again. The minimal amount of new content coupled with the gimped co-op and surface-level GamePad enhancements ultimately cast this new version of Mass Effect 3 as a lesser sibling to the earlier releases. It’s still Mass Effect 3 though, and it’s not a game to be missed.

Score: 9 out of 10

(This game was reviewed on the Wii U using a copy provided by the publisher)

Are you looking for a method to get your iTunes music onto your Android phone? Join us as we run through the process and offer you a choice of solutions that will have you enjoying all that iTunes content on your Android tablet or smartphone today.

Apple’s iTunes offers over 28 million songs, more than 1 million podcasts, and a bunch of TV shows, movies, music videos, and audiobooks. It’s all a part of Apple’s seamless ecosystem, but what happens if you want to leave the walled garden? Do you have to leave all your entertainment behind? We all know that Apple and Google don’t play nice in the marketplace, but what does that mean for people with a big iTunes collection and an Android device?

Don’t worry. There are ways to get your iTunes content onto your Android smartphone or tablet. We’re going to outline some methods you might try and suggest a couple of apps that can help.

What do you want?

To begin, you’ll need to work out what’s important to you. Do you just want to move the content out of iTunes and make it available for your Android device, or do you want to continue to use iTunes and be able to sync content to your Android phone? Are you just going after music files or do you want a solution for movies too? Do you have older DRM protected files? How dirty are you prepared to get those hands?

Up until 2009, Apple sold DRM protected music files through iTunes, which means they will only work on an iOS device. If your song is labeled “Protected” in iTunes then it falls under this banner. You’ll also find that movies and TV episodes are still DRM protected.

Removing DRM protection

In typical Apple style you can “upgrade” old DRM protected songs to remove the restrictions, but they’ll charge you 30 cents per song to do it. If you’re willing to pay that amount, then look for the Upgrade to iTunes Plus option under Quick Links in the iTunes store. There’s no option to do this for movies or TV shows. If you have a lot of tracks in this category then the iTunes Match service might be more cost effective at $25. It will also upgrade your songs to DRM free status.

You can always find software to convert your iTunes files. There are a lot of options out there. You might try something like Tunebite or Aimersoft DRM Media Converter. There is also a popular free option called Requiem, which is designed specifically to remove DRM protection from iTunes files. Just make sure you get the right version to match your iTunes version.

We’ll take a look at how to play iTunes music on your Android device now, but remember that none of the following methods will allow you to copy or sync those DRM protected files.

The manual move

Simple, but tedious, the manual move is a straightforward method if you just want a few choice tracks. Connect your Android phone and select USB Mass Storage Mode from the Notifications drop down on your phone or the pop-up menu on your computer. This method varies from device to device and it could be labeled differently on yours. Once you’ve found it, you should be able to go to Computer on your PC and see your device listed. Browse to the Music folder on your Android and then you can select files directly from iTunes and press “Ctrl+C” to copy them and then “Ctrl+V” to paste them into the folder on your phone or tablet. If you’re on a Mac, download the official Android File Transfer tool to move files.

iTunes to Google Music

Another option is Google Music. You can move your iTunes music into your Google Music account in the cloud and then you’ll be able to access it anywhere with any Android device or on the Web. You’ll need to sign into Google Music, download the Music Manager, and install it. When it is installed and starts up, it will ask where you store your music and you’ll see an iTunes option. Select iTunes, hit Next, and then choose “Upload all songs and playlists,” or you can select individual playlists. You can also tick the box to include podcasts if you value those. There’s even an option to automatically upload songs that you add to iTunes in future.

To access your songs on your Android device you just need the Google Play Music app. With it, you can stream all your songs from Google Music in the cloud over Wi-Fi or your mobile network. You also have the option to make songs available offline by downloading them to the device.

DoubleTwist

DoubleTwist is designed to give you a central repository for all of your music, photos, and videos. It’s very simple to use. Start by downloading the desktop and Android versions of the software from the DoubleTwist website. Fire up the software on your computer and allow it to import your iTunes content. You can import your playlists, ratings, music and videos from iTunes. You can then sync your content to your smartphone or tablet via USB.

You can splash out $5 to get AirSync which will enable you to sync your content over Wi-Fi. You can sync music, including ratings, play counts, playlists, videos, and photos between your Mac/PC and your Android device. You can also pay $5 for the Music Lover upgrade if you want a premium equalizer and album artwork.

iSyncr

If DoubleTwist doesn’t serve your needs, for $4, you can get iSyncr. It works directly with iTunes and syncs your music to your Android device via USB or Wi-Fi. You can also sync playlists, artwork, ratings, play counts, skip counts, last played date, and last skipped date. The service goes both ways so you can also sync any new MP3s on your Android to your iTunes library.

You’ll want to use iSyncr with a decent Android media player app. We suggest Rocket Music Player. The free version is good, but the premium version is only $4 and it adds some great extras, like an expanded EQ and support for more formats from ALAC to FLAC, and even WMA and WAV.

So there you have it, a few ideas on how to play iTunes content on your Android. We hope one of them worked for you. If you run into any problems or you have another solution you want to recommend then please share.

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